Source:
http://www.lcms.org/graphics/assets/media/2010 Convention/convention_wb.pdf
(Pages 43-45)
R2-02
Commission on Worship
The current Commission on Worship, comprised of seven members
appointed by the President of the Synod (Bylaw 3.9.7.1), is
immersed in addressing the worship situation ongoing in the Synod.
As an appointed group, the members represent a microcosm of the
Synod’s varying positions on matters of worship. It is the commission’s
collaborative task to shore up the treasure of the Lutheran
heritage of worship as it is has been advanced, confirmed, and published
in the vast constellation of resources associated with Lutheran
Service Book (Bylaw 3.9.7.2). Furthermore, the commission has been
actively engaged in seeking to understand, network, and care for the
growing number of pastors, musicians, and laity who are skilled in
navigating, harnessing, and unleashing the benefits of multimedia in
worship and are able to integrate Web delivery systems that readily
provide nearly an infinite number of worship repertoire choices
(Bylaw 3.9.7). Out of necessity, the commission has had to embrace
living with the challenge of weighing ecclesiastical authority, personal
preference, and thoughtful appreciation for local contextual practices.
Conversations initiated by the commission have sought to balance
and consider matters of worship that are unequivocally theological,
practical, and missional. Through a labyrinth of networks, the commission
has sought to create a permeating sense of concord throughout
the Synod, so that congregations and church workers may continue
to walk together grounded firmly in a sacramental identity whereby
worshipers humbly receive the divine service of God through the
proclamation of the Gospel and the faithful administration of Baptism
and the Lord’s Supper. Certainly God’s people gathered around Word
and Sacrament are to be continually revitalized by celebrating the
Eucharist feast where faith is bolstered, forgiveness is declared, and
saints of God from every time, place, context, and mission gather to
feast upon the lavish grace of God.
Admittedly, the commission has moved intentionally beyond the
printed bylaw guidelines outlined in the 2007 Handbook. Resolutions
from previous conventions have expressed the need for greater awareness,
development, and appreciations for diverse worship resources,
such as Res. 2-04 of the 2004 convention, which
• affirmed “respect for diversity in worship practices as we build
greater understanding of our theology of worship and foster further
discussion of worship practices that are consistent with that
theology”;
• encouraged “pastors, musicians, and worship leaders to exercise
this freedom responsibly”; and
• called on the commission “to initiate a process leading toward
the development of diverse worship resources for use in The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.”
Furthermore, 2007 Res. 2-01 resolved
• that “the Commission on Worship and the Commission on
Theology and Church Relations organize a model theological
conference, including representation of pastors and laity from
each district as well as representation from each of our schools
of higher learning,” in order to fulfill 2004 Res. 2-04;
• that the districts of our Synod be encouraged “to organize similar
conferences to further discussion and understanding”; and
• that “the Commission on Worship, in consultation with the
Council of Presidents and the faculties of our seminaries, universities,
and colleges, prepare studies on this topic for use in
circuits and congregations.”
To fulfill the requirements of the above bylaws and resolutions,
the Commission on Worship has specifically collaborated, consulted,
endorsed, administered, and/or created the following events, endeavors,
publications, and resources.
Conferences
1. “The Institute on Liturgy, Preaching, and Church Music,” July
22–25, 2008, at Concordia University, Nebraska—a nationwide
gathering of 750 pastors, musicians, and laity who are engaged
in conversation, education, and diverse and practical expressions
of Lutheran worship practices that are grounded in Word and
Sacrament.
2. “Word and Sacrament Ministry in This and the Next Generation,”
a “Worship Leaders’ Conference Exploring Worship Diversity in
a Campus Culture,” February 15–17, 2009—a gathering of university/
seminary chaplains and deans called to discuss in an open
and collegial manner contextual worship paradigms at each and
every campus ministry setting of the Synod.
3. “A Model Theological Conference—Toward a Theology of
Worship That Is …,” January 11–13, 2010, in St. Louis—a gathering
of district presidents, designated pastors, musicians, and lay
persons from every district that is currently and constructively
engaged in contextual/contemporary and/or traditional/liturgical
worship. A series of well articulated discourses on the confessional,
scriptural, missional, vocational, personal, contextual,
practical, and theological aspects of worship was presented and a
series of wide-ranging worship opportunities was modeled.
4. “A Lutheran Songwriters’ Conference—Singing the Sacraments
of God,” April 22–23, 2010, in St. Louis—a gathering of Lutheran
songwriters, worship leaders, and educators actively engaged in
shaping the musical worship life of the Synod’s congregations.
Resources
1. LSB: Guitar Chord Edition—A comprehensive collection of the
hymnody in LSB scored in lead-sheet format for guitarists and
keyboardists, intended for ensemble or individual use in corporate
worship and group and family devotions.
2. Children Making Music DVD—A video presentation endorsing
through testimony and witness the value of engaging children in
the task of making music in the context of Lutheran worship.
3. “Let Us Pray”—An ongoing subscription service providing
weekly prayers for the worship life of our congregations.
4. “Worship Survey” —An expansive survey of worship practices
developed and administered with the assistance and care of personnel
from LCMS Rosters and Statistics. The survey explored
the varieties of worship practices and attitudes across the Synod.
Results of the survey are posted online.
5. “Theses on Worship”—A comprehensive document prepared by
the Council of Presidents that coalesces specific worship principles
clearly delineated in Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions.
6. Online digital recordings of the comprehensive liturgies drawn
from Lutheran Service Book have been made available so that
pastors and musicians can effectively model and lead corporate
worship.
7. “As We Gather”—Lectionary summary statements are released
regularly to coordinate with the historic one-year and the threeyear
lectionary series, helping pastors and parishioners make
connections between the readings, particularly as they relate to
the Church Year.
Para Church Organization Collaboration
1. Center for U.S. Missions Worship Consultant—During the first
year of the past triennium, study groups were formed in collaboration
with the worship consultant connected to the Center for
U.S. Missions to evaluate nearly 200 contemporary worship songs
being used in LCMS congregations. The result was the online
“Song Evaluation Tool,” an expandable resource to inform congregations
of particular strengths or weaknesses of the worship
songs based on a prescribed set of Lutheran constructs as defined
in the resource “Text Music Context—A Resource for Reviewing
Worship Materials.”
2. Transforming Church Network—The commission’s executive
director recruited an advisory group of pastors to assist Rev. Dr.
Terry Tieman in developing an initial module on worship practices
that are distinctly Lutheran and yet sensitive to intentional missional
endeavors. This online publication will be available directly
through Transforming Church Network.
Future Resources
1. Re:sound—The Commission on Worship continues to establish
an online network of diverse pastors, musicians, technicians, and
worship leaders who actively engage in the creation, administration,
and implementation of worship at the local congregational
level.
2. LSB: Hymnal Companion—This comprehensive edition will
provide essays, vast historic documentation, textual detail, music
discussion, and creative practical suggestions on how to understand
and integrate the rich hymnic resources made available in
Lutheran Service Book.
3. LSB: Liturgy Desk Edition—This resource will explain the background
of each liturgical component in the divine services and
daily offices in Lutheran Service Book, providing careful historic
background as well as rubrics regarding liturgical presiding and
service leadership.
4. LSB: Hymn of the Day Bible Study Series—This resource will
explore the biblical foundation for select hymns in Lutheran
Service Book. The initial goal is to provide online or printed
resources as needed for congregations and/or individuals engaged
in studying hymn texts as they are related to Scripture and integrated
into various worship settings.
5. DVD Contemporary Hymn Accompaniments—A resource that
represents the culmination of research, consultation, and development
of fresh accompaniments and video components for
congregational song. This is an intentional endeavor to begin moderating,
encouraging, and providing a fresh palette of sounds to
support the singing of hymnody in contemporary idioms.
Institutional Connections
1. Seminaries—Personnel from the Commission on Worship have
provided encouragement for and engaged in forum discussions
with the faculties of LCMS seminaries to ascertain assistance in
resolving theological, missional, and practical issues regarding
worship practices in the Synod.
2. Concordia Universities—The Commission on Worship has provided
advice for and engaged in collaborative efforts with several
Synod colleges and universities in support of the development of
responsible certification programs to assist future musicians and
pastors to navigate through the complexities of hymnal and nonhymnal
worship.
In response to its mandates, the Commission on Worship is purposely
engaged at a very critical juncture in the Synod’s history. The
commission stands in the middle of an intersection that is filled with
individuals and groups that have singular preferences and passions
related to worship. This ongoing situation may confuse and challenge
our ability to present a clear unwavering Gospel proclamation
of One Mission, One Message, One People. In the meantime, within
the mosaic of worship practices that characterize the national Synod,
the commission continues to encourage faithful yet diverse members,
gifted musicians, and pastoral leaders to worship the Triune God, in
spirit and in truth, as individuals and as congregations of the Synod.
Gregory Wismar, Chairman
David Johnson, Executive Director
